Heavenly Inquisition Sword

Episode 152. Those Who Arrived by Sacrificing Others

Around noon.

As they passed the point where the Yangtze River splits into three branches, the captain hurriedly approached Yeon Jeokha and his group.

"Gentlemen, we are about to reach Gangjujin. There is a base of the Yangtze River Pirates there, so we will not stay and will depart immediately... Is that acceptable?"

The captain discreetly observed the expressions of the warriors.

The original destination of the boat was the Gu River, which was about twenty minutes beyond Gangjujin. However, the warriors had insisted on disembarking at Gangjujin.

Gangjujin, with the base of the Yangtze River Pirates, was a place typically avoided by everyone except those affiliated with the Yangtze River Alliance. The captain was confirming if they truly wanted to disembark there.

Yu Geunsik spoke up.

"That's right, but is there a problem?"

"No, it's not exactly a problem, it's just that..."

The captain left the sentence unfinished.

People not associated with the Yangtze River Alliance usually avoided Gangjujin. The captain feared that insisting on this point would make it seem like he was looking down on them.

"Ah, there's no problem. I just wanted to confirm the landing spot."

After saying this, the captain bowed and quickly retreated.

Yu Geunsik, not fully understanding the situation, shrugged his shoulders.

Yeon Jeokha, who had arrived a bit late, discreetly asked Namgung Yeon.

"What's going on?"

"The captain was concerned about us. He wanted to confirm if we were really going to disembark at Gangjujin."

"Hmm."

Yeon Jeokha looked at the captain with a puzzled expression.

He was surprised that the captain was worried despite having seen their martial skills.

"Is Gangjujin really that fearsome?"

"Have you heard of the Yangtze River Alliance?"

"No."

At Yeon Jeokha’s confident response, Namgung Yeon smiled.

"It's an alliance of various pirates along the Yangtze River. The leader of the river pirates, known as the Viper of the Yangtze River, is the head of this alliance. In Gangjujin, almost all the residents are affiliated with this alliance. You’ll be surprised when you see it."

"Is it really that big of a surprise?"

"You could say it's a small kingdom ruled by the Viper of the Yangtze River. The entire island is under his control. It's known as one of the most ferocious places in the Murim."

"The most ferocious place in the Murim?"

Shim Tong, who was nearby, interjected.

"Hehe. Basically, it’s a lawless land. I spent a few months there when I was young because I liked the atmosphere."

"Wow, that explains it. If Old Shim says he liked the atmosphere, I can imagine. If it was that good, why did you leave?"

"Hehe. Curiously, I used to get very seasick back then. So I thought, 'Ah, my place is in the mountains,' and left for the mountains."

"Wow, it seems like your life has been a mix of pirate and bandit."

"Thanks to that, I met the young master. It must all be the will of heaven."

Yeon Jeokha shook his head at Shim Tong’s brazen response.

Meanwhile, the boat slowly approached a pier much larger than any they had seen before.

They had finally arrived at Gangjujin.

The captain disembarked Yeon Jeokha and his group along with their carriage and quickly left without looking back.

Watching the boat hastily depart, Seolha murmured.

"Wow, that man who kept asking if we needed anything left without saying goodbye."

The coachman, Lee Sa, commented with a worried expression.

"I drank with the captain last night, and just mentioning Gangjujin made his hair stand on end."

Yu Geunsik tried to console him.

"Ha, ha. Don’t worry too much. Even if they’re pirates, they won’t bother civilians."

"Really?"

At that moment, shouts were heard in the distance.

Yeon Jeokha and his group looked toward the source of the noise.

It seemed that two people had collided at the pier and gotten into a fight.

A rough-looking man in his forties was beating and cursing another man, clearly a civilian.

Despite the violence, no one intervened.

Lee Sa, with a pale expression, murmured.

"I thought they didn’t bother civilians."

"Must be some local thug. They have no pride or anything."

"Doesn’t seem to be the case..."

"Come on, let’s go."

Yu Geunsik pushed Lee Sa toward the carriage.

Yeon Jeokha looked around curiously.

The place was not only large but also filled with people, like a bustling market.

"Wow, in places controlled by the Demon Warriors, everything was destroyed, but here it’s different."

"Hehe. Pirates are different from mountain bandits who raid villages. Besides, this is the pirates' stronghold."

"Is this stronghold really that big?"

Yeon Jeokha looked at Shim Tong with surprised eyes.

This place seemed like a large port city with dozens of ships coming and going.

How could this place be the pirates' stronghold?

"Namgung Yeon already told you, didn’t she? The entire island is controlled by the Yangtze River Alliance. Look around. Do you see all those armed people? Many of them are pirates."

"Really, all these people are pirates?"

"Half of them are natives of the island. The armed ones are either pirates or belong to evil sects, and the rest are natives."

Yeon Jeokha’s mouth opened in astonishment.

He now understood Namgung Yeon’s words about how surprising it would be.

Gangjujin was, as she said, a small kingdom.

"Gentlemen, can we leave?"

Lee Sa was already sitting in the coachman’s seat, eager to leave as soon as possible.

Yeon Jeokha and his group got into the carriage one by one.

At that moment, a dozen warriors approached with a swagger.

From the window, Yeon Jeokha asked Shim Tong.

"Could it be...?"

Could they already be getting into trouble just after disembarking?

Without doing anything?

"Hehe. It seems someone has set their eyes on Namgung Yeon and Jin Seolha. Here, beautiful women belong to the strongest man."

"Wow, this is a den of beasts."

"Yes, the place is full of pirates."

Although everyone was seated in the carriage, they couldn’t depart.

The unknown men had blocked the carriage’s path.

Lee Sa looked at Namgung Cheon with a worried expression.

Sighing, Namgung Cheon spoke to the pirates.

"I don’t know who you are, but we..."

The red-haired man, known as the Red-Haired Demon, Joo Eun-jang, interrupted Namgung Cheon.

"Who are you to say 'we'? I don’t care who you are. Leave the women and go. I’ll spare your lives."

At the insolent response, Namgung Cheon became furious.

"You scoundrel! How dare you speak like that! In this carriage is the Grand Inspector of Nokrim! If you value your life, scram."

Upon hearing that the Grand Inspector of Nokrim was present, Joo Eun-jang was startled.

"Is it true that the Grand Inspector is here?"

Yeon Jeokha tossed his Inspector’s badge out the window.

The badge landed at Joo Eun-jang’s feet, who picked it up and examined it carefully before respectfully returning it.

Shortly after, as the carriage began to move along the riverside path, Joo Eun-jang told his companions:

"Inform everyone that the Grand Inspector is here. I’ll follow the carriage."

"Yes."

Nine of the pirates scattered in different directions.

Joo Eun-jang followed the carriage at a respectful distance.

Gangjujin.

Guga Village.

The main base of the Yangtze River Alliance was located in Guga Village.

In front of the base was a large pier with half a dozen ships anchored in a row.

Of course, no ordinary ship could approach this pier.

That’s why Yeon Jeokha and his group disembarked at a port an hour away.

Yang Tae-ho, the leader of the Yangtze River Alliance, was eating and drinking with his followers who had not gone out to plunder.

Just as he felt full, someone came running in.

Yang Tae-ho glanced over and saw that it was one of the pirates stationed at Gangjujin Port.

Shin I-chung, the lieutenant, asked with a serious expression:

"What’s going on?"

"The Grand Inspector of Nokrim has arrived at Gangjujin Port."

The pirates at the Yangtze River Alliance base called Gangjujin Port the 'outer port' and Guga Village the 'inner port.'

"The Grand Inspector? Yeon Jeokha is here?"

"Yes, yes."

"Did you see him personally?"

"The Red-Haired Demon saw his Grand Inspector badge."

"I see. You may leave."

"Yes."

After the messenger left, Shin I-chung looked at Yang Tae-ho.

"Master Yang, why would the Grand Inspector come here?"

"How would I know? Do you have any information on him?"

"None. Until recently, I had never heard of him. He must be someone the Grand Chaeju trained in secret."

As Yang Tae-ho's lieutenant, his loyalty was more to him than to the Grand Chaeju.

"The Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord doesn’t just hand out titles because someone is his disciple. Look at the Twelve Demons; none of them have been named Inspectors."

"Don’t worry, Master. Even if he’s only twenty years old, he won’t be a match for you."

"Jeje. What could he have learned in his mother's womb to challenge me?"

Yang Tae-ho laughed and then remembered something.

"Do you recall what the merchants said about a young master from the Yeon clan who defeated the warriors of the Yoomyung Cult?"

"Are you referring to those absurd rumors about someone turning into a monster?"

"Yes, but the fact is, there is no other young master from the Yeon clan with such skills."

"That’s true."

"If that young master really defeated the warriors of the Yoomyung Cult..."

Yang Tae-ho's eyes narrowed as an idea formed.

Shin I-chung, watching him seriously, stood up.

"The chiefs of the Yangtze River Alliance will follow your lead. Shall I gather them?"

"Do you think I’m no match for the Grand Inspector? Do you think that brat will defeat me?"

"......"

Shin I-chung remained silent, knowing the situation was delicate.

Yang Tae-ho, displeased with Shin I-chung's caution, drank his wine in one gulp and smashed the cup against the table.

"Gather them. I want to see how formidable this Grand Inspector is."

Finally, Shin I-chung smiled, relieved.

In reality, this meant they would face the Grand Inspector with the best warriors of the Yangtze River Alliance.

"Understood. I’ll prepare a grand welcome."

Shin I-chung bowed to Yang Tae-ho and left.

Now alone, Yang Tae-ho sighed deeply.

"Hmm."

Could the warriors of the Yangtze River Alliance stand against Yeon Jeokha?

Probably not.

If they couldn’t stand against him, they couldn’t stand against the Grand Inspector either.

"First, let’s see his skills."

He didn’t care if dozens of people died in the process.

After all, they too had arrived at their positions by sacrificing others.